Denizen

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈdÉ›n.ɪ.zÉ™n/

Origin

From Middle English denisein, from Anglo-Norman denzein, from deinz ("within"), from Late Latin deintus ("from within") (French dedans).

Full definition of denizen

Noun

1. An inhabitant of a place; one who dwells in.The giant squid is one of many denizens of the deep.
• 1912: Edgar Rice Burroughs, Tarzan of the Apes, Chapter 6The cries of the gorilla proclaimed that it was in mortal combat with some other denizen of the fierce wood. Suddenly these cries ceased, and the silence of death reigned throughout the jungle.
• Sir Walter ScottDenizens of their own free, independent state.
2. One who frequents a place.The denizens of that pub are of the roughest sort.
3. (British, obsolete) A person with rights between those of naturalized citizen and resident alien (roughly permanent resident), obtained through letters patent.
• 1765, William Blackstone, Commentaries on the Laws of England, Book 1, Chapter X, p. 374A denizen is a kind of middle state, between an alien and a natural-born subject, and partakes of both.''
4. Though born in Iceland, he became a denizen of Britain after leaving Oxford.
5. (biology) An animal or plant from a particular range or habitat.The bald eagle is a denizen of the northern part of the state.

Usage notes

As a British legal category, used between 13th and 19th century (mentioned but not used in 20th century), made obsolete by naturalisation – see denization.

Synonyms

• (inhabitant of a place) inhabitant, native, resident
• (one who frequents a place) regular

Derived terms

• denization

Related terms

• citizen

Verb

1. (transitive, British) To grant rights of citizenship to; to naturalize.He was denizened to Ireland after fleeing his home country.
• DrydenAs soon as denizened, they domineer.
2. (transitive) To provide with denizens; to populate with adopted or naturalized occupants.
• J. D. HookerThere were a few islets in the sand ... and these were at once denizened by various weeds.